Just weeks after achieving a major milestone with the launch of its first locally developed sommelier course, the Foundational Sommellerie, the South African Sommelier Association (SASA) has established the Best Sommelier of South Africa Competition.

The competition, which will only take place every two years, will acknowledge and reward the best professional working in the South African hospitality industry. It is open to all SASA members with at least one year’s experience in wine service in the country.

Importantly, the competition will also afford SASA the opportunity to identify a candidate to represent South Africa at the prestigious Best Sommelier of the World competition taking place in Mendoza, Argentina, in April 2016. Here, the candidate must be a South African citizen or have worked in the country for more than three years, be bilingual and able to conduct the competition one of the languages recognised by the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI) but which is not his or her mother tongue.

According to SASA Chairman, Neil Grant, once in Mendoza, the South African candidate will face more than 55 other candidates in a bid to win the title ‘Best Sommelier of the World’. Currently held by Paolo Basso from Switzerland, the Best Sommelier of the World is only awarded every three years.

“As an organisation intent on raising the standard of beverage service in the local hospitality industry, SASA is delighted to launch the Best Sommelier of South Africa Competition,” said Grant.

“The intention is to test the art of the sommelier, not just wine knowledge or the ability to recognise a wine when tasted blind, but the ability to engage the client, the technicality of the service, the knowledge of all beverages, and food and wine pairing,” he said.

The inaugural event will be held at the TAJ Cape Town on Monday January 11 next year. The first round will take place during the morning and finalists will compete again during the afternoon.

Candidates will be put through their paces by a panel of international judges and sommeliers including Deputy General Secretary of the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale and the President of the Sommeliers of Morocco, Michele Chantome; Best Sommelier of Sweden 1986, Hans Astrom; and Grant. The Best Sommelier of the World 2010, Gerard Basset MW, will set some of the questions.

“The Best Sommelier of South Africa is supported by SASA members, as well Veuve Clicquot, Nederburg, Reciprocal Trading, Riedel Glassware and The Taj Cape Town. I’d like to thank them all for their generosity,” said Grant.

“Anyone interested in entering the event should email [email protected] to request further information or to register.”